This FAQ will be constantly evolving based upon frequency of each question asked and new problems will be addressed as they are brought to attention. This section is primarily for small matters which don’t necessarily need an entire article to cover but are just as important and need to be addressed.
How Do I Get Rid Of All This Algae
Quick Solution: Perform more frequent water changes and limit the total amount of light which reaches the aquarium to only 9 hours a day.
Algae growth is one of the most common problems I hear about and often the solution can be a simple one. Algae is a plant, and plants need water, light, and fertilizer to grow. Since these are the three things that allow algae to grow our solution is to limit at least one of these three parameters. Obviously removing the water would harm the fish, so we will avoid that one. The next parameter we can address is the lighting. If you are new to fish keeping you may not know that fish prefer to have a day/night cycle and as such lights are commonly left on for 24 hours a day. Instead, invest in a timer that you plug the light into and approximately 9 hours of light each day. Factor in open windows/ambient light from the room into this time since that light will also assist the algae in its growth.
The primary components of fertilizer are N (nitrogen) – P (phosphate) – K (potassium). The fertilizer we often need to keep the closest eye on in an aquarium is the nitrogen. Remember, within the nitrogen cycle nitrogen is the final component and continues to build up in our aquarium until we perform a water change. It is possible that the algae growing in your aquarium is a result of high concentrations of nitrogen so perform a water test and if high levels are detected, perform a water change to reduce the concentration.
Why Is My Water Cloudy
Cloudy water is a common issue within new aquariums, but can easily be a more complicated issue. If your aquarium is new, it is possible that debris was not sufficiently washed off the substrate/decorations and this has become suspended within your water column. Additionally, it is incredibly common for new tanks which are cycling to have sudden booms in bacteria which will cloudy up the water. These two problems are cause for little concern, but it doesn’t hurt to perform an additional water test to make sure no serious problems have occured.
If your aquarium has already been setup and cycled, there may be another reason for your cloudy water. If this cloudy water has a green color to it, this could be algae and can be addressed in the same manner that any other overgrowth of algae would be (seen above). With brown/tan cloudy water this could simply be a result of tannins which have been leached from organic material. You will know when this is the case because it will be preceded by the addition of organic material such as driftwood or some types of leaves. The final primary reason for water cloudiness is a lack of filtration. That is not to say your filter isn’t working, but it can be a result of reduced flow such as clogged filter media, a malfunctioning pump, or large debris on the filter intake. The solution to this problem is rather straightforward but depends on the cause. Generally looking over the filter for clogs will solve this problem, but it could be a failing pump which needs to be replaced.
How Many Fish Should I Put In My Aquarium
Quick Answer: Not all fish are the same, but each inch of fish (based on maximum size) requires approximately one gallon of water.
This as a general question can be answered with a rule aquarists developed as a catch all. This is by no means a perfect answer since every fish is different. It is best to first choose a fish, then determine their temperment, maximum size, and their swimming needs. Danios for instance are a fish which stays relatively small, but they like to swim much more than fish of a similar size. With that being said, the general rule which works for a majority of fish is one gallon of water for every inch of fish length. The length of the fish should be determined by the maximum size each fish can grow, not by their current size.